Compassion rose

I have 2 Compassion roses that were my late husband's favourites. They are over 25 years old now, and I've been keeping them going the past 7 years, but they aren't doing very well! There are a couple of tall stems about 7-8 foot high, with a few flowers at the top, but not much else. So, if I cut one or two of the stems are they likely to shoot from the bottom at their age, or will I kill them? I've tried feeding them well in Spring. Can anyone suggest a remedy please?

 

I have read that roses live for 20 to 100 years old, depending on the rose. Maybe your Compassion roses are just getting old.

You could try cutting back one of them in early spring and see what happens.

 

@Mairi Lindsey you need to prune it in winter and feed it in spring. Roses are greedy and to keep them strong and healthy they need an autumn mulch and a spring boost and occasional liquid feeds up to mid summer.

Here's what the RHS says on how to grow it - Rosa 'Compassion' (ClHT) | rose 'Compassion' Roses/RHS and, if you read down far enough, it includes links to pruning advice, including renovation pruning for older and/or neglected roses as well as other forms of rose.

 

They usually root from cuttings. I have one my friend gave me grown from a cutting. Try some hardwood cuttings this winter.
I am a bit wary of cutting down roses really hard since I killed Maigold that way!

 

Here is an excellent video showing you how to take cuttings. I have done this for years and can’t remember the last time I actually bought a rose plant.



Just click on “watch on youtube”

 

That's how I do mine @Tidemark but they don't all want to grow. Some varieties do nothing and others give me one or two successes so it's always good to try.

 

Was it very hot and dry where you are this summer? Did you water them? A full canful at least twice a week.

 

Cheers Obelix-Vendée, I will give them a mulch soon - haven't tried an Autumn one before and give pruning a go. Fingers crossed!

 

Have you pruned them at all?

 

Great, many thanks Tidemark. I love taking cutting, but never dreamt of doing it for roses! Will give it a go, nothing to lose and may save the plants in the long run.

 

Yes, it was very hot and dry, and no, I didn't water them. I have 4 water butts, but use it all for pot-grown veg or plants needed for pollinators etc.

 

Not what you'd call a prune, but I take any dead wood out and when dead-heading cut back about 8-10 inches on the longest stems.

 

Oh, if it was hot and dry and you didn't water them that is a good reason for them being poorly.

 

Climbing roses need pruning late winter, early spring. The side shoots have to be shortened to help them to flower more and lower down. There are videos on YouTube that can show you how.

 

Condolences for losing your husband. I should have said earlier.

Forget what I said in my first post about cutting one down. I hadn't realised that you hadn't pruned or watered them. Weed around them, mulch them with rotted manure or compost, prune them in Feb/March, feed them with rose fertiliser late March, water well in hot dry weather, give them an occasional drink of tomato fertiliser, feed again after the first flowering and, hopefully, they will improve.